India’s nuclear technology export future

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Panel on Emerging Nuclear PowersSeptember 22 2010Presenter: S L Rao

A Nuclear India2

India started work on the peaceful use of atomic energy in the early 1950’s

Large body of trained scientists and engineersNuclear power program proceeded with little

fuel or technological assistance Power reactors to mid 1990s had lowest

capacity utilization factors, due technical difficulties because of isolation, but rose from 60% in 1995 to 85% in 2001-02. In 2008-10 load factors dropped due to shortage of uranium fuel. Now improved due resumed uranium supplies

Towards Self-sufficiency

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Uranium exploration and mining Fuel fabrication Heavy water production Reactor design and construction Reprocessing and waste management Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) finalized in 1964; this

prototype - Rajasthan-1, with Canada's Douglas Point reactor as reference unit in 1964, built as collaborative venture between Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) and NPCIL. Started up in 1972 and duplicated Subsequent indigenous PHWR development has been based on these units. 

By 2020 nuclear generation capacity targeted at 21,180 MW Small fast breeder reactor of 500 MWe prototype under construction at

Kalpakkam; and further oxide-fuel fast reactors Is building a much larger one. Also developing technology to utilize the abundant thorium deposits as a

nuclear fuel Exploded thermonuclear device in 1998

Nuclear Strategy4

Possible development of nuclear installed capacity

Gwe=Giga Watts of Electricity; LWRE=light water reactor; FBR-fast breeder reactor

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Assumptions:FBR technology is successful expect 20118 GW of LWR acquired through imports by 2017.Developed Advanced Heavy Water Reactor using Thorium by 2020.

Economics of PFBR

Prototype fast breeder reactor

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Capacity – 500 MWe

Capital cost – Rs. 3492 Crores

Cost of energy – Rs. 3.25 per kWh

Fuel – MOX (PuO2 and UO2). 29% PuO2

Burn-up rate – 100 GWd/t

Expected operating life – 60 years

Expected cost reduction due to technology learning – 25%.

Gestation period – 5 years.Next generation reactors will be of capacity 1000 MW.Five designs being considered.

Goals of Third Stage7

Utilization of the Thorium fuel on a commercial scale.

Large scale deployment of nuclear power.Achieving excellent economics comparable to

other alternatives.Providing non-electrical application, in

particular desalination and high-temperature processing applications including non-fossil fluid fuels.

Potential from Nuclear energy8

Heavy Engineering capability-1

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Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in July 2008 preparing for international markets for supply of heavy engineering components for nuclear reactors.

L & T J.V. with NPCIL building plant for domestic and export nuclear forgings to produce 600-tonne ingots in steel melt shop; a very large forging press to supply finished forgings for nuclear reactors, pressurizes and steam generators; also heavy forgings for critical equipment in the hydrocarbon sector and for thermal power plants. 

  In 2009, L&T signed four agreements with foreign nuclear power reactor vendors. 1. With Westinghouse for component modules for Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor.  2. With Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) "to develop a competitive cost/scope model for the ACR-1000."  3. With Atomstroyexport for components for the next four VVER reactors at Kudankulam, extending beyond that to other Russian VVER plants in India and internationally.  4. With GE Hitachi to produce major components for ABWRs. (advanced heavy water reactor) 

Heavy Engineering Capability-2

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Two companies to utilize indigenous Indian capabilities for complete construction of nuclear power plants including the supply of reactor equipment and systems, valves, electrical and instrumentation products for ABWR plants to be built in India.  L&T "will collaborate with GEH to engineer, manufacture, construct and provide certain construction management services" for the ABWR project. 

Early in 2010 L&T signed an agreement with Rolls Royce to produce technology and components for light water reactors in India and internationally

Two other large engineering companies entering nyclear-Bharat Forge and Bharat Heavy Electricals

Long-term goal to develop an advanced heavy-water thorium cycle. First stage of this employs the PHWRs (pressurized heavy water reactors) fuelled by natural uranium, and light water reactors, to produce plutonium.

Commitments and Policies11

India never a nuclear weapons proliferator, unlike China, North Korea and Pakistan

Has never used nuclear weapons as direct or implied threat

India declared nuclear no-first-use policy and is developing a nuclear doctrine based on "credible minimum deterrence

Considers NPT and CTBT are discriminatoryTo combat climate change India requires

substantial nuclear energy capacityMust rise from 20000 MW by 2020 to 63,000

MWe by 2032 and aims to supply 25% of electricity from nuclear power by 2050

Export Opportunities in coming years for India

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TOP PRIORITY IS TO RAPIDLY EXPAND ELECTRICITY CAPACITY

EquipmentDifferent stages of nuclear energyEPC contractsOperationsTechnology

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